CEO calls for action to reduce toll of roadworker death and injury

The Highways Agency (HA) Chief Executive, Graham Dalton, has reminded motorists of the dangers faced by road workers who carry out improvements and maintenance on motorways and major A roads. In the last three years eight people have died whilst improving and maintaining the strategic road network in England.

HA contractor near miss reports illustrate risk to the workforce with road workers reporting cases of members of the public driving through coned off areas or colliding with works vehicles. Advice to drivers from the HA is to:

Speed – keep within the speed limit;

Lanes – get into the correct lane in good time;

Attention – concentrate on the road ahead;

Awareness – stay alert for traffic leaving or entering roadworks;

Distance – keep a safe distance;

Signs – observe all signs; and

Workers – be on the alert for road workers… the roads are their work place.

Some of the innovative techniques and equipment being used to keep the workforce safe were on display at the event in Gateshead, including:

Intelligent cones– which can warn road workers when vehicles accidentally enter work areas,

High level signs – to provide more visible messages to motorists approaching roadworks, and

New sign layouts – to reduce the number of carriageway crossings made by road workers.

Road workers deserve respect in their workplace

Graham Dalton said at a HA and contractor Aone+ hosted event:

“Pause for a moment to think about your own workplace, and then imagine what it would be like with heavy lorries thundering through at more than 60mph, and drivers who think they know better than to keep within the speed limit.

Road workers deserve respect in their workplace, and it is vital that road users show them consideration by keeping within the speed limit and driving safely.

Any death or injury is one too many and we would like to send a clear message to drivers: do not risk lives and wreck families for the sake of a few seconds saved on a journey.”